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Leonard, N.D., man charged with theft

FARGO – A Leonard man is in jail after police say he bought items with more than $82,000 in bad checks earlier this year.

Paul Baumler, 48, faces several charges in Cass County District Court, including theft of property and forgery. On one occasion, he opened a bank account at Alerus Financial with a $100 deposit, and then allegedly wrote more than $82,000 in bad checks before the bank closed the account.

In a separate case, Baumler is accused of selling a Bobcat he did not own to a woman for $20,600, and then allegedly failing to return her money. Baumler also faces charges in Minnesota and South Dakota.